Just outside Ashmole Academy catchment. What will happen?

[Mum1768]

My child goes to Walker primary (and live very close) and will soon be leaving for secondary. We live ~ 0.67 miles away from Ashmole Academy which is 0.05 - 0.1 miles (2020/2021) outside the catchment area (0.598 / 0.555).
Realistically where would my child be sent? Would u get in on appeal?
I'm freaking out and considering if I can afford to move..
Thank you so much for your time!

is it an actual defined catchment area or are you citing last distance offered? What is your local admissions policy - do you have a catchment school?

What would you base an appeal on - it wouldn't fly on distance so you'd have to be making a case that the school you want is a better fit because it offers 'x' and your child has demonstrable interest in 'x' type of argument.

A wait list offer may also be possible if you're very close in terms of distance as you'll presumably be reasonably close to top of waiting list.

When do you have to apply?

Do you know any parents at your child’s school with older children who go there? Perhaps they can shed some light on how much waiting list movement there is after the initial round of offers on 1st March (which is what the “furthest place offered” data is based on, NOT who gets a place at a later date). We’re in a similar situation in that we’re 1.08 miles from our favourite secondary, which has a published “furthest place offered in March 2021” of 0.8 miles. Apparently by the time school started in September, children up to 1.3 miles away had been offered waiting list places. On that basis we put it as our first choice, knowing that although we won’t get an offer in March, we might get one later (although we’d be fine with our 2nd and 3rd choices if not). Good luck OP!

I don’t know the area, but what are the other nearby schools’ admission criteria? Where would you sit in those?

We live in the area too and for my Y10 DS I put Ashmole as a first choice, we are similar distance to you perhaps a bit closer but didn't get in on waitlist either, and this was before the primary school had priority so I really think your chances are slim.

You may have a chance to get into Southgate School which is very good but I think their catchment has shrunk too, I guess you would be allocated Broomfield if you won't get into Ashmole. Broomfield has always had a bit of a bad rep but has at least gone to good status.

What about Wren Enfield, as it's a new school it may not be too oversubscribed yet

Winchmore Hill or Chase?

What would you base an appeal on - it wouldn't fly on distance so you'd have to be making a case that the school you want is a better fit because it offers 'x' and your child has demonstrable interest in 'x' type of argument.

This isn't the appropriate argument. To succeed in an appeal you need to show that the potential prejudice to your child of not attending outweighs the potential prejudice to the school of taking an extra child. That doesn't just mean that you think the school is better than the alternatives, but would need good reasons (e.g. medical grounds) supported by evidence.

The “prejudice” argument doesn’t necessarily have to be restricted to medical grounds (and many schools have a separate admissions category for social/medical need). It can be anything which shows that the child will face prejudice (ie detriment) if they don’t get a place and that outweighs the prejudice/detriment to the school. That can include things like curriculum coverage, extra-curricular activities, pastoral support or whatever, but it has to be something more substantial than really liking the school and wanting a place there.

The “prejudice” argument doesn’t necessarily have to be restricted to medical grounds

That's why I used "e.g".

How did you get on OP?